Each of the mythological characters has a significance in its own right. How big or how small they are is debatable, but there is a story behind all of them, from gods and goddesses to magical creatures and even mythical places.
Although each being has a great importance in its own way, the existence of some gods or goddesses in Greek mythology, as in every mythology, outweighs the mythical stories. Since death and the afterlife are very important in Greek mythology, Thanatos becomes one of the important characters of Greek mythology, referring to this issue.
So who is Thanatos and what god is he?
Death and the afterlife is a subject of great importance in Greek mythology. Of course, in the face of this importance, it is quite natural that Thanatos is referred to as the god of death. Although the father of Thanatos, the son of the night god Nyx, is sometimes described as the ‘God of Darkness Erebus’, this information varies considerably and it is not possible to give a clear answer. Nyx and Erebus are naturally seen as parents of many dark-themed deities. The most famous god known to Thanatos other than himself is his brother Hypnos, known as the ‘god of sleep’. Other lesser-known deities such as Keres, Geras, Strife, and Nemesis are also among his other siblings.
Thanatos’ place in mythology is very important and is known as holy. Having the role of psychopomp (who is responsible for accompanying the spirits from the world to the afterlife), Thanatos collects the souls of the deceased with his sister Moirai, accompanies them and ensures that they are transported to the shore of Acheron (the river of the Underworld). According to mythology, it symbolizes the ‘innocence of death’. Since Thanatos is very related to death and the afterlife, he is sometimes confused with Hades, the god who rules the underworld. But when you go into detail, the differences are obvious. According to the legends told, if a deceased person was buried with a correct burial, he could pass through Charon’s boat and reach the other side. Although he has the title of the god of death, Thanatos is a god who is mostly characterized by peaceful deaths. In addition, those who died violently were mostly found by Keres.
In Ancient Greece, when mythology was widespread, Thanatos was described as a winged old man with a sword in his hand, unlike the fearsome figures that the name of the god of death might conjure up in mind. This naturally explains its association with the Grim Reaper in modern times. One of the most mentioned places of Thanatos is the Trojan War. The biggest reason for this is that Sarpedon, son of Zeus, died while defending Troy. Zeus was very saddened by the death of his son and commissioned Thanatos and his brother Hypnos personally to retrieve his son’s body. He sends his son’s body to Lycia, the homeland of Sarpedon.
The story of Thanatos and Sisyphus:
Every god and goddess in Greek mythology is full of unique legends. One of the most famous legends known about Thanatos is the story of Thanatos and Sisyphus. The legend begins with the punishment of Sisyphus, king of Corinth. Zeus is very angry with Sisyphus. Because Sisyphus had a strange habit of revealing the secrets of the gods to his friends. As the events continued one after another, Zeus got tired of Sisyphus and commissioned Thanatos to chain Sisyphus and take him to the underworld. This is where things get interesting. Sisyphus was a very cunning man, and when Thanatos arrived, he had thought of a trick to defeat him. Sisyphus asks Thanatos to show him how the chains work. Sisypus traps Thanatos when he puts the chains on himself to show off.
During this time, Hades, lord of the underworld, realizes that no new spirits have come to the kingdom he rules. The god of war, Ares, on the other hand, observes wars in which no one dies. Since Thanatos is in chains, there is no one to carry and guide them. Ares travels to Corinth to free Thanatos.
In the development of these events, Sisyhpus is killed. Being prepared for the possibility of such a possibility, Sisyphus admonished his wife not to bury his body in an ancient Greek manner before he dies. When he descends into the underworld, Sisyphus convinces Hades’ wife, Persephone, to return to the world of the living in order to scold her for not burying him properly. When he reached the surface again, Sisypus had no plans to return, of course, and this would cause a new god to follow him. This time it’s Hermes. Hermes, who does not let the water in his hands about cunning, catches Sisyphus at once and Sisyphus’s eternal punishment begins in this way.
Thanatos and Heracles legend:
Sisyhpus was not the only person in mythological history who could defy and defeat the god of death. Heracles, who was the subject of many legends, also proved that the god of death could be defeated with muscle power.
Admetus, the king of the Pharae region of Thessaly, which is one of the 13 regions that make up Greece today, hosted Apollo and Heracles for different reasons. As a result of this visitation, Apollo convinces the people who control destiny that someone can volunteer in place of Admetus, and in this way, Admetus can escape death. After many years, Thanatos comes for the king Admetus. While the king expects his aged parents to take his place, his parents do not volunteer, but his wife, Alcestis, volunteers to die for Admetus.
The way things happened did not happen as Admetus wanted. Admetus, who has great regrets for this agreement with Apollo, realizes that there is no point in living without his wife, but it is a little late for this situation. Heracles, upset by the situation, decides to help Admetus. Heracles goes to Alcestes’ mausoleum (monument/grave) and meets Thanatos there. Heracles tells Thanatos to release Alcestes. When things don’t go well, Heracles decides to fight Thanatos. At the end of the war, Heracles as a demigod defeats Thanatos and forces Thanatos to free Alcestes. Thus, thanks to Heracles, Admetus and his wife Alcastes could live together for a while.
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